Match book holder



July 13, 1943. B. L. BROOKS 2,324,276

MATCH BOOK HOLDER Filed April 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 13, 1943.L. BROOKS 2,324,276

MATCH BOOK HOLDER Filed April 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flag/alum LBraaks Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE MATCH BOOKHOLDER Benjamin L. Brooks, Lynchburg, Va. Application April 17, 1940,Serial No. 330,178

2 Claims.

This invention relates to holders for paper match books, and thisapplication for patent is a continuation-in-part of my application forpatent Serial No. 287,640, filed July 31, 1939.

The object of the present invention is to provide a holder into whichthe conventional paper match book may be easily inserted and readilyremoved therefrom; which shall firmly hold the match book in position,in resistance to the pull exerted upon it by the act of breaking off amatch; which shall be so constructed as to expose the striking surfaceof the match book, without having any structure at the ends of thestriking surface with which the head of the match might collide in thecourse of its striking movement; which provides a fire guard between thestriking surface and the heads of the match; which provides a plate foradvertising matter either above or below the fire guard, or in bothpositions, and which affords a convenient edge for the severance of thecover of the match book.

The invention contemplates a match book holder in which any one or moreof these features are embodied.

Referring to the drawings, throughout the several figures of which thesame reference characters have been used to denote identical parts, thegroup of Figures 1 to 4 represent one modification of the invention,

Figure 1 being a perspective view showing the front aspect of theholder,

Figure 2 being a similar view with the match book in place,

Figure 3 being a perspective view showing a rear aspect, andillustrating the severance of the cover of the match book against thetop edge of the back plate, and

Figure 4 being a cross-section through the holder taken in a verticalplane.

Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, a front elevational view and an endview of a slightly modified form of the invention;

Figures '7 and 8 are, respectively, a front elevational view and an endView of still another slightly modified form of the invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a match book holder embodying theprinciples of the present invention illustrating the ease of removal ofa spent match book from the holder.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, and first adverting tothe group of Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the numeral I represents theholder as a whole, which may be made of metal or of any suitable rigidmaterial, comprising a back plate 2, which at its lower end is forwardlyand upwardly curved or bent to form a trough 3 for receiving the base ofthe match book. The back plate is provided near its upper edge 4 withspurs 5, which are forced penetrably into the back cover 5 of the matchbook, for holding the match book in position in the holder. As anauxiliary holding means the back plate 2, at its lateral edges, isprovided with the upwardly extending lugs 1,

etween which the match book is retained.

At its lower portion, the back plate 2 may be provided with theforwardly extending sides 8, the upper front edges of which are bridgedby the match book retaining band 9.

This band, as shown, has a forwardly andupwardly turned flange ill,extending transversely across the holder, the function of which flangeis as a reinforcing member to increase the rigidity of the holder, andalso as a fire guard to deflect from the match heads any spark which mayfly from the match which is being struck. The front of the holder isprovided with an open space H between the fire guard and the trough 3,which open space coincides with the striking area on the front of thematch book. It will be observed that the sides 8 are formed withrecesses l2 at the ends of the open space H, and which extend back ofthe plane of the striking surface of the match book, so that the holderpresents no lat.- era1 structure in the path of movement of the matchbeing struck and with which, were such structure present, the match headmight collide and be broken off.

The retaining band 9 in this form of the invention extends upwardly fromthe fire guard a suilicient distance to provide a plate It, affording asupport for an advertising label or legend.

The back plate 2, trough 3, sides 8, and retaining band 9, form a pocketin which the lower portion of the match book is inserted. Afterinsertion, the match book is pressed against the spurs 5 so that thelatter impale the back cover 3 of the match book. The matches themselvesform a protection to prevent injury to the fingers when the match bookis being pressed against the spurs.

The match book is thus held firmly with respect to the holder, so as toresist displacement from the pull exerted upon the match book whenmatches are torn or broken therefrom. It has been amply proven byexperiment that the spurs alone are quite sufiicient to hold a matchbook in place. However, inasmuch as the presence of the advertisingplate l3 determines that the matches will be pulled sideways instead offorwardly, in breaking them oil, the lugs 1 may be useful as anauxiliary holding means to prevent lateral displacement of the matchbook. It is within the purview of the invention to employ the lugs Ialone, without the spurs.

In employing this holder, it is generally desirable to tear off thecover of the match book. Figure 3 shows that the top edge 4 of the backplate 2 constitutes a convenient straight edge against which the backfolded cover may be forcibly drawn in tearing it off. The match bookholder in this form of the invention, as well as in the modificationspresently to be described may be conveniently mounted upon any suitablepedestal, such as the stand [4.

Referring now to that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and6, it distinguishes from the form already described, chiefly in twoparticulars, that the reinforcing flange l5 which corresponds to thereinforcing flange H] of that form of the invention described in Figures1 to 4, inclusive, is bent down and outwardly at a right angle to theretaining band !6. This construction has one advantage over that shownin Figures 1 to 4, in that the fire guard extends out for a greaterdistance, and therefore, is presumably that much more effective in itsfunction as a fire guard. However, the form shown in Figures l to 4,inclusive, may be preferred, for the sloping nature of the flange H3gives it the function of guiding a match onto the striking surface ofthe match book, which may have been carelessly applied thereto in theact of striking.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6 also omits theadvertising plate l3 above the retaining band, and substitutes thereforan advertising plate I! which extends below the trough 3 within whichthe base of the match book seats.

That form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 distinguishes fromthe form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6 solely in that itomits any advertising plate either above or below the retaining band.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the details ofconstruction as herein illustrated and described, and the arrangement ofparts, are by way of example and not to be construed as limiting thescope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Match book holder comprising a flat back member having a forwardlyextending channel for supporting the base of a match book, a forwardlyextending band adapted to encompass the match book above said basesupporting channel, said band having a forwardly extending flangefunctioning as a fire guard, the front of said holder being formed withan opening between said base supporting channel and said encompassingband adapted to register with the striking surface of the match book,said opening being characterized by the absence of structure at its endsin the plane of the striking surface of the match book, which mightimpede the freedom of the striking stroke of the match, said back memberbeing provided with forwardly extending penetrating lugs near its topadapted to impale the match book and inhibit tilting movement of thesame.

2. Match book holder comprising a fiat back member having a forwardlyextending channel for supporting the base of a match book, a forwardlyextending band adapted to encompass the match book above said basesupporting channel, said band having a forwardly and upwardly extendingflange along its lower edge functioning as a fire guard and as a guideto direct a match against the striking surface of the match book, saidholder being formed with an opening between said base supporting channeland said encompassing band adapted to register with the striking surfaceof the match book, said opening being characterized by the absence ofend structure in the plane of the striking surface of the match bookwhich might impede the freedom of the striking stroke of the match, andsaid back member being provided with forwardly extending lugs adapted toinhibit tilting movement of the match book.

BENJAMIN L. BROOKS.

